小年到十五 春節(jié)天天有講究英語翻譯

Spring Festival, which falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month is the most important festival in China and a time for family reunion, like Christmas in the West.

農(nóng)歷正月初一開始，就到了中國最重要的節(jié)日春節(jié)。人們闔家團圓，就如同西方的圣誕節(jié)一樣。

Traditionally, Spring Festival starts in the early days of the 12th month of the lunar calendar and lasts until the middle of the 1st lunar month of the following year. With the modernization of China, some traditional customs are still followed today, but others have fallen by the wayside.

傳統(tǒng)意義上的春節(jié)始于農(nóng)歷臘月（即十二月）初，一直持續(xù)到來年的正月（即一月）中旬。隨著中國的現(xiàn)代化，一些傳統(tǒng)習俗被保留了下來，而另一些卻逐漸消失在我們的視野中。

As we are preparing for the most important festival, let's have a review of the traditional customs that celebrate the Spring Festival.

在我們忙著準備這個重大節(jié)日的同時，不妨來回顧一下春節(jié)有哪些傳統(tǒng)習俗吧。

臘月二十三：送灶上天

Little New Year, which falls the 23rd day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity who oversees the moral character of each household.

農(nóng)歷臘月二十三日是小年，也是祭灶節(jié)。灶神在中國神話傳說中監(jiān)管一家善惡。

People make sacrifices to the Kitchen Gold on this day. A paper image is burnt dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by pasting a new paper image of him beside the stove.

人們在小年這一天祭拜灶神，焚燒灶神的畫像，意味著送灶神上天，稟報這家人在過去一年的德行。接著人們會在灶旁貼上新的畫像，意味著再把灶神接回來。

臘月二十四：掃舍去塵

Families undertake thorough house cleaning on the 24th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, sweeping out the old in preparation for the coming year.

農(nóng)歷臘月二十四日，各家各戶會進行大掃除掃舍去塵，預示著除舊迎新。

According to tradition, ghosts and deities must choose either to return to Heaven or to stay on Earth during the last month of the year. It is believed that to ensure the ghosts and deities' timely departure, people must thoroughly clean both their bodies and their dwellings, down to every last drawer and cupboard.

根據(jù)傳統(tǒng)，各路鬼神在農(nóng)歷臘月必須決定自己是返回天庭還是繼續(xù)留在人間。據(jù)說為了確保鬼神及時啟程離開，人們必須徹底地沐浴干凈、清理住處，哪怕是抽屜柜子也不能疏忽。

臘月二十五：推磨做豆腐

People turn the mill and make tofu on the 25th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar, as legend says the Jade Emperor will descend and taste the soybean curd residue to experience an austere life.

農(nóng)歷臘月二十五日，人們推磨做豆腐，因為傳說玉帝會在這一日降臨人間，品嘗豆腐渣，體味人間疾苦。

According to Taoist mythology, the Jade Emperor is the Taoist ruler of Heaven and all realms of existence below, including that of Man and Hell. He is one of the most important gods of the Chinese traditional religious pantheon.

道家神話里，玉帝是道家統(tǒng)治者，管理著天界及以下各界，包括人間和地獄。玉帝是中國傳統(tǒng)宗教諸神中最重要的神祗之一。

臘月二十六：殺豬割年肉

The folk saying goes: "butcher a pig and get some meat to prepare for the New Year feast" on the 26th day of the 12th month in the Lunar calendar.

中國有一句俗語：殺豬割年肉。農(nóng)歷臘月二十六正是殺豬割年肉的日子。

In the old days, many people could not afford meat and they saved the best for the New Year feast. People's livelihoods have improved greatly and meat is now a very common dish in daily diet, but the Chinese still prefer having meat during festival season.

舊時許多人買不起肉，所以就把一年中最好的東西留到新年團圓飯吃。如今人們的生活質量得到了極大的改善，一日三餐里肉食已經(jīng)再常見不過，但春節(jié)期間人們?nèi)匀荤姁廴馐场?/p>

臘月二十七：宰雞趕集

People kill chickens and go to market to buy provisions for the Spring Festival on the 27th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar. With the approach of the Lunar New Year, Chinese people prepare ingredients and food they need for the New Year feast. Chicken is an indispensible dish.

臘月二十七是人們動手殺雞、上市場打年貨的日子。農(nóng)歷新年即將到來，中國人開始準備新年團圓飯所需的食材，而雞肉是必不可少的一道菜。

臘月二十八：題寫桃符

After people have cleaned the house and started preparing food, they begin decorating their homes creating an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity on the 28th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar. Decorations include spring couplets, New Year pictures, posters of door gods and paper-cuts.

掃舍除塵、采購食材之后，人們開始于臘月二十八日裝飾房舍，營造喜氣洋洋的節(jié)日氛圍。各色裝飾品包括春聯(lián)、年畫、門神貼畫和剪紙。

臘月二十九：上供請祖

On the 29th day of the 12th lunar month people visit the graves of their ancestors to honor their memory. It is said Spring Festival originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the start of a new one.

臘月二十九，人們動身掃墓，拜祭祖先。據(jù)說春節(jié)始于商朝（公元前1600年至公元前1100年），那時人們在辭舊迎新之際祭祀神靈和祖先。

大年三十：除夕守歲

Chinese people are supposed to stay up the whole night on the 30th day of the 12th month in the Lunar Calendar

臘月三十，人們熬夜守歲。

In Chinese mythology, a monster called nian would come out to harm people on New Year's Eve, so people get together, staying up and chatting, hoping for a peaceful passage of time. The custom of staying up (Chinese: shou tai sui) symbolizes the warding off of all diseases and disasters and wishing good luck in the New Year.

中國神話里，一頭叫年的妖怪會在新年的前一夜跑出來傷害人類，因此人們聚在一起，守歲聊天，祈禱能平安度過這一晚。因此，中國人將新年前夕熬夜的習俗稱為守太歲，意味著遠離疾病災禍，祈禱新年好運。

Chinese people attach great importance to the Spring Festival Eve, when all family members eat dinner together.

中國人十分重視除夕（即新年前一夜），彼時闔家團圓，共享團圓年夜飯。

大年初一：金雞報曉

The first day of Chinese New Year, also known as the "day of chicken", officially begins at midnight.

午夜零點時分，人們正式跨入新年第一天，也叫金雞報曉。

It is traditional to light firecrackers and make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil monster nian.

傳統(tǒng)習俗是，人們會燃放鞭炮，盡可能制造大的喧鬧聲趕走邪惡的妖怪年。

Most importantly the oldest and most senior members are visited with the visits strengthening family kinship.

最重要的習俗是，人們會拜訪家中最年長的長輩，以加強家人之間的親情。

Senior members of the family hand out red envelopes containing cash (Chinese: ya sui qian), a form of blessing and to suppress aging and the challenges of the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers.

而家中的長輩會給晚輩（主要是兒童和青少年）紅包（中國人稱之壓歲錢），代表著對晚輩的祝福，也是祈禱自己在來年身體康健、萬事如意。

大年初二：金吠報春

On the second day, married daughters usually go back to their own family to visit parents, relatives and close friends. Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.

初二，出嫁的女兒會回娘家給父母、親人和密友拜年。舊時，女兒出嫁后拜訪娘家父母的機會并不多。

Some believe the second day is also the birthday of all dogs and remember them with special treats.

還有一些人認為初二是所有犬類的生日，因此要給它們好吃的以示慶祝。